Rep. Mike Quigley Not Running For Mayor

CHICAGO (CBS) - U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) announced Wednesday morning that he will not be running for mayor next year.

Quigley, 52, reportedly had been considering a mayoral run, but previously told Chicago Magazine that he would decide whether to run after the midterm elections Nov. 2.

But on Wednesday, he said in a news release: "After careful consideration, I have decided not to pursue a run to become Chicago's 55th mayor, instead choosing to continue what I started in Congress 18 months ago: making our federal government more efficient and accountable; one that works better for Chicagoans and all Americans. "

Quigley went on to say in the release that whoever becomes mayor must keep in mind that the city "needs guidance and strong leadership in troubled times."

"Our next mayor will have to reconcile limited resources with a city that counts on its public services," Quigley said in the release. "Chicago needs a mayor to make tough choices on our budget to protect our financial health and ensure its sustainability. We must demand a mayor who values transparency, will build Chicago's green economy, invest in education and public safety, and sees the urgency in cracking down on duplicative city and county functions."

Mayor Richard M. Daley announced last month that he is not running for reelection. Following his announcement, at least three dozen people were rumored as possible successors.

But recently, attention has coalesced on a handful of anticipated candidates, among them White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, state Sen. Rev. James Meeks, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, city Clerk Miguel Del Valle and City Colleges of Chicago Board Chairman Gery Chico.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) surprised many supporters last week when he announced he will not be running.

Also among the once-rumored candidates was Forrest Claypool, Quigley's former colleague on the Cook County Board, who joined with the now-Congressman in challenging the policies and tax hikes proposed by President Todd Stroger and his late father, John Stroger.

But Claypool also later announced he is not running, and is now focusing on his campaign for Cook County assessor as an independent.

Quigley was elected to Congress in a special election last year, when Emanuel left his 5th District seat to become President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

Before that, he represented a large part of the city's North Side on the Cook County Board from 1998 to 2009. Prior to that, he was an aide to former Lakeview neighborhood Ald. Bernie Hansen (44th) from 1983 to 1989, and ran unsuccessfully against Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) in 1991.